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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Norman Briggs <normanbriggs30@yahoo.pt>
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:45:59 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ATTENTION: HONORABLE CONTRACTOR


INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT,
BARCLAY'S  BANK PLC,
PRIVATE BANKING SECTION,
75 LOMBARD STREET EC3P AH,
LONDON UK.                   
                               
                                           PERSONAL AND HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
 
ATTENTION: HONORABLE CONTRACTOR

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND CALVARY GREETINGS TO YOU

I AM MR.NORMAN BRIGGS, HEAD INTL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT, MY OFFICE MONITORS AND CONTROLS THE AFFAIRS OF ALL OTHER BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN LONDON (UK). I AM THE FINAL SIGNATORY TO ANY TRANSFER OR REMITTANCE OF HUGE FUNDS MOVING WITHIN BANKS BOTH ON THE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS.
 
I HAVE BEFORE ME LIST OF FUNDS, WHICH COULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO SOME NOMINATED ACCOUNTS AS THESE ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED EITHER AS GHOST ACCOUNTS, UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS AND OVER-INVOICED SUM ETC. YOUR NAME WAS AMONG THE PEOPLE EXPECTING THE FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO THEIR ACCOUNT, ON THIS NOTE;  TO YOUR UNPAID FUNDS. I HAVE YOUR FILE BEFORE ME AND HOPE YOUR DATA'S ARE CORRECT AND UNTEMPERED UNLESS U RECONFIRMS IT.
 
AS IT IS MY DUTY TO RECOMMEND THE TRANSFER OF THESE SURPLUS FUNDS TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TREASURY AND RESERVE ACCOUNTS AS UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE YOU BASED ON THE INSTRUCTIONS I RECEIVED 2 DAYS AGO FROM THE BRITISH COMMITTEE ON CONTRACT PAYMENTS / FOREIGN DEBTS TO SUBMIT THE LIST OF PAYMENT REPORTS / EXPENDITURES AND AUDITED REPORTS OF REVENUES.
 
AMONG SEVERAL OTHERS, I HAVE DECIDED TO REMIT YOUR CONTRACT SUM FOLLOWING MY IDEA THAT WE HAVE A TRANSACTION AND I AM GOING TO DO THIS LEGALLY.
 
I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS BEING PROCESSED AND WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU RESPOND TO THIS LETTER. ALSO NOTE THAT FROM MY RECORD IN MY FILE YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRACT PAYMENT IS $17.5MILLION DOLLARS (SEVENTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS).
 
1. THIS TRANSACTION  MUST BE KEPT BETWEEN ME AND YOU FOREVER, AND ALL CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE STRICTLY BY EMAIL / TELEPHONE, FOR SECURITY PURPOSES.
 
2. THERE SHOULD BE NO THIRD PARTIES AS MOST PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR FUND RELEASE ARE CAUSED BY YOUR AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVE.
 
BELOW ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER PROCESS:
 
A. YOUR FULL NAMES
B. YOUR HOME ADDRESS
C. YOUR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION
D. YOUR BUSINESS/OCCUPATION
E. YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.
 
ALL THE RELEVANT INFORMATION SHALL BE FORWARDED TO ME, UPON MY RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE REQUESTED DATES ABOUT YOU.
 
IF YOU AGREE WITH MY CONDITIONS, I ADVICE YOU ON WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY AND THE TRANSFER WILL COMMENCE WITHOUT DELAY AS I WILL PROCEED TO FIX YOUR NAME ON THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE INSTANTLY TO MEET THE THREE DAYS MANDATE. I HOPE YOU DON'T REJECT THIS OFFER AND HAVE YOUR FUNDS. YOU CAN ALSO REPLY TO MY PRIVAT EMAIL ADDRESS: normanbriggs2015@accountant.com
 
WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY SOON.
 
YOURS IN SERVICE,
 
MR.NORMAN BRIGGS
HEAD INTL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
BARCLAY'S BANK PLC, LONDON UK


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